Agents Andrea Brown President andrea@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Andrea Brown is the President of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. Founded in New York City in 1981, it was the first literary agency to represent both children's book authors and illustrators. Prior to opening her own firm, Andrea was an editor at Alfred A. Knopf, and worked in the editorial departments of Random House and Dell. In 1990, she moved her literary agency to Northern California. Her literary agency has sold over 2,000 books to just about every publisher, from toddler board books to serious, award-winning young adult. Andrea has published articles and published a chapter about the children's book field in THE PORTABLE WRITER'S CONFERENCE, published by Quill Driver Books. She has been quoted in the NEW YORK POST, CNN.com, Yahoo News, FORBES, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING and REUTERS NEWS SERVICE. President of the San Francisco chapter of the Women's National Book Association for four years, she was the National Pannell Award Chair that gives awards to booksellers at the Book Expo Association. She is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Andrea has had her own cable television show in New York City, "An Afternoon with Children's Books," and has appeared on C-SPAN'S "Book Notes", and public television's "Authors and Critics." She is the Executive Director of the Big Sur Writing Workshops, one for children's books and one for adult fiction. Andrea speaks at many writer's conferences including the Singapore Book Council, Maui Writers Conference, Asilomar, San Diego State University, UCLA, Stanford University, Palm Springs Writers Conference, Southwest Writers Conference, Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Pacific Northwest Writer's Conference, Texas Writer's League, The Society of Children's Book Writers conferences, and more. Some of Andrea's sales include bestselling titles such as MAMA DO YOU LOVE ME (Chronicle), THE BEANIE BABY HANDBOOK and TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON series (both with Scholastic), the BEVERLY HILLS 90210 series (HarperCollins), the SUNSET ISLAND series (Berkley), Olympic Silver medalist, Sasha Cohen's autobiography, FIRE ON ICE (HarperCollins), Neal Shusterman's DARK FUSION series (Dutton), EVERLOST and UNWIND (Simon & Schuster) and a forthcoming series with HarperCollins. Andrea is also the author of WRITERS' AND ARTISTS' HIDEOUTS: Great Getaways for Seducing the Muse, the only travel/writer's guide available. Laura Rennert Senior Agent Query email address: lauraqueries@gmail.com (ALL queries must be sent here or they will not wind up in Laura's Query box) General email address: ljrennert@mac.com Representative Deals Laura's author website Laura Rennert is a Senior Agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She's been with the agency since 1998, and thinks of herself as a "literary omnivore." She specializes in all categories of children's books, from picture books to young adult. She also specializes in up-market women's fiction/literary fiction, crossover fiction (works that come out in the YA market and cross into the adult market, or vice versa), mysteries and thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. She represents award-winning and best selling authors, including New York Times bestsellers Ellen Hopkins, Jay Asher, and Maggie Stiefvater, and National Book Award Finalist Kathleen Duey, as well as brand new, first-time authors. Some of her noteworthy sales include deals for seven-figures to Simon & Schuster and deals for over half a million dollars to Random House, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster; as well as film deals to Nickelodeon/Paramount; Unique Features/Warner Bros; and July Moon Productions and Strike Entertainment/Universal Pictures. Some of her exemplary titles are FALLOUT (Margaret McElderry/S&S); LINGER (Scholastic); THIRTEEN REASONS WHY (Razorbill/Penguin ); SHIVER (Scholastic); CRANK (Margaret McElderry/S&S); MADAPPLE (Knopf); THE FIVE ANCESTORS series (Random House); IDENTICAL (Margaret McElderry/Simon & Schuster); THE PLEDGE (Margaret McElderry/Simon & Schuster); THE BODY FINDER (HarperCollins); DESIRES OF THE DEAD (HarperCollins); MOSTLY MONSTERLY (Simon & Schuster); THE SCORPIO RACES (Scholastic); KILL ME SOFTLY (Egmont); BLOOD MAGIC (Random House); THE MARBURY LENS (Feiwel & Friends/Holtzbrinck); and TRIANGLES (Atria/S&S). The common thread in the diverse range of projects Laura takes on is a strong voice that gives her pleasure, even apart from being in service of the story. She looks for stories that make you feel and think, and is drawn to fictional worlds that are replete and richly imagined. Although her tastes are wide-ranging, right now she is particularly seeking upper middle-grade and young adult fiction. She'd love character-driven AND page-turning contemporary fiction with real emotional power; dystopian, fantasy, paranormal or works with sci-fi elements that have a literary bent; and gothic or neo gothic novels that hark back to her 19th century Brit Lit roots. She has a weakness for novels that turn her favorite classics (hint, Jane Austen, Shakespeare, original fairy tales, Dante, the Pre-Raphaelites) or myths inside out, give them an intriguing new context, and bring something unexpected to the table. She'd love to find a stunning, can't put me down historical novel with a swing for the fences literary voice and an amazing commercial hook. She has a special weakness for characters with an insider-outsider perspective; books that take us to places and cultures readers wouldn't normally have access to; narrative risk-takers; and books that make her laugh or cry. Across all categories, Laura's sweet spot is books with "literary voice and commercial conception." Laura's work as a literary agent is enhanced by her having been on both sides of the table. She's the author of a picture book, BUYING, TRAINING, AND CARING FOR YOUR DINOSAUR (Knopf), illustrated by Marc Brown, creator of Arthur, the star of many picture books and a six-time Emmy Award-winning PBS TV show. She is also the author of a series of highly illustrated books for young readers, ROYAL PRINCESS ACADEMY: DRAGON DREAMS, forthcoming with Dial in Fall 2012. Laura has a Ph.D. in English Literature and nine years of experience teaching as a faculty member in English Departments of the University of Virginia, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, and Santa Clara University. She speaks at writers' conferences, book festivals, and writers' workshops throughout the country and overseas, and believes she has the best job in the world. Caryn Wiseman Agent caryn@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Caryn has been an Agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. since early 2003, and has sold over 125 books. She handles children's books only: young adult and middle-grade fiction and non-fiction, chapter books, and picture books (fiction and non-fiction). She represents New York Times bestselling authors, award-winning authors, debut authors, and authors at every stage in between. Caryn holds an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA, and a BS from the University of Virginia, and her fifteen years of business experience prior to joining the Agency emphasized editing and writing as well as sales, negotiation and client management. Caryn's particular interests include humorous middle-grade fiction for girls and for boys; YA that falls at the intersection of commercial and literary; and non-institutional biography and other unique nonfiction for children and teens. She would love to see more contemporary multicultural MG or YA—books that deeply explore another culture, as well as books in which the ethnicity of the character is not the issue; contemporary MG or YA fiction with a touch of magical realism; sports fiction for girls and boys that has a hook other than the sport; page-turning thrillers; unique twists on paranormal and dystopian themes; and realistic fiction with an environmental theme. She is always open to terrific children's work that doesn't fit these categories, however. For fiction, a fresh, unique voice is paramount. A literary bent to a well-crafted commercial story in which ordinary characters find themselves in extraordinary situations would capture her attention. She loves nonfiction that reads like fiction; that has a great "story behind the story". She does not represent adult projects. Please do not query her regarding adult work. Caryn represents Nate Evans, co-author of the New York Times bestseller THE JELLYBEANS AND THE BIG DANCE and its two sequels (Abrams) as well as the new chapter book series, BEAST FRIENDS FOREVER (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky). She represents national indie bestseller Tom Angleberger, author of THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA and its forthcoming sequel, DARTH PAPER STRIKES BACK (Abrams/Amulet). She also represents best-selling and award-winning authors Ben Mikaelsen, Randi Reisfeld, Cheryl Bardoe, Jennifer Berne, Debbie Levy, Brenda Ferber, Cece Bell, Amjed Qamar, Toyomi Igus and illustrator Michele Wood. Recent award-winning books include THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA by Tom Angleberger (2011 ALA Notable and Kirkus Best Books of 2010), A YEAR OF GOODBYES by Debbie Levy (2010 Kirkus Top Ten Book of the Year and 2010 Sydney Taylor Notable Book), ME, FRIDA by Amy Novesky (2010 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Award - illustrated by David Diaz and 2011 ALA Notable), and RIDING INVISIBLE by Sandra Alonzo (2011 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults). Some recent and soon-to-be released titles include HORTON HALFPOTT by Tom Angleberger (Abrams/Amulet) , I SEE THE RHYTHYM OF GOSPEL by Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood (ZonderKidz), CALVIN CAN'T FLY by Jennifer Berne and Keith Bendis (Sterling), UNLOCKED by Ryan Van Cleave (Walker), FALLING IN LOVE WITH ENGLISH BOYS by Melissa Jensen (Puffin/Penguin), NOCTURNE (the sequel to CLAIRE DE LUNE) by Christine Johnson (Simon Pulse) and the BALLPARK MYSTERIES chapter book series by David Kelly (Random House). Caryn is a member of SCBWI and a frequent speaker at writer's conferences, including the Big Sur Writer's Workshop, Willamette Writer's Conference, SDSU Writer's Conference. Jennifer Rofé Agent jennifer@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Jen's author website Jennifer handles children's fiction projects ranging from picture books to young adult. Middle grade is Jennifer's soft spot and she's open to all genres in this category, especially the tender or hilarious. She is always looking for fresh and distinct voices; stories that simultaneously tug at her heartstrings and make her laugh out loud; and unassuming, "adorkable" heroes. As for YA, Jennifer is drawn to contemporary works; dramatic or funny romance; and urban fantasy/light sci-fi. She's especially interested in mind-blowingly smart projects that are layered, complex, and unexpected. In terms of picture books, early readers, and chapter books, she is interested in character-driven projects and smart, exceptional writing. Jennifer also enjoys how-to and sports-related nonfiction. Some of Jennifer's clients include Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, authors of the critically acclaimed nonfiction THE DOWN TO EARTH GUIDE TO GLOBAL WARMING (Scholastic); Crystal Allen, author of HOW LAMAR'S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA SIZED TROPHY (HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray); Kathryn Fitzmaurice, author of THE YEAR THE SWALLOWS CAME EARLY (HarperCollins) and the forthcoming DIAMOND IN THE DESERT (Viking); Denise Doyen, author of the E.B. White Read Aloud Honor picture book ONCE UPON A TWICE (Random House); Cynthea Liu, author of PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE (Penguin) and founder of Authors Now!; Barry Wolverton, author of NEVERSINK (HarperCollins); and Lauren Strasnick, author of NOTHING LIKE YOU (S&S/Simon Pulse), HER AND ME AND YOU (S&S/Simon Pulse) and the forthcoming THEN YOU WERE GONE (S&S/Simon Pulse). Jennifer is co-author of the picture book PIGGIES IN THE PUMPKIN PATCH (Charlesbridge). She has been on faculty for several conferences including the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and San Diego State University conferences, the Big Sur Writer's Workshop, and multiple SCBWI conferences. Jennifer earned a BA in English with a minor in Social and Ethnic Relations from UC Davis and has a background in secondary education. Kelly Sonnack Agent kelly@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Kelly Sonnack came to the Andrea Brown Literary Agency two years ago after agenting for the Sandra Dijkstra Agency for three years. Prior to that, Kelly worked for the publishing giant Reed Elsevier, where she served as the Life Sciences Acquisitions Editor under the Academic Press imprint. As an agent, Kelly represents all age groups within children's literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels). In picture books and middle grade fiction, Kelly looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader's imagination, and an authentic voice. In young adult, she appreciates literary voices and character-driven stories with heart but is also drawn to dystopian, light science-fiction, and other well-crafted fantasy. In non-fiction for children, she enjoys projects that inspire and stimulate the minds of our younger generations. At this time, Kelly is not accepting submissions of adult fiction or adult non-fiction. Some of the titles Kelly has represented include Steve Watkins' Golden Kite Winner DOWN SAND MOUNTAIN and his next YA novel WHAT COMES AFTER (both with Candlewick); Anne Osterlund's AURELIA sequel, entitled EXILE (Penguin/Speak); Anna Sheehan's debut YA novel A LONG, LONG SLEEP (Candlewick); Sharon Cameron's debut YA novel TURNING CLOCKWISE and its sequel (Scholastic); Carolyn Marsden's next two middle-grade novels STARFIELDS (Candlewick) and THE WHITE ZONE (Carolrhoda/Lerner); James Burks' graphic novel GABBY AND GATOR (Yen Press/Hachette) and his picture book BEEP AND BAH (Carolrhoda/Lerner); Neil Johnson & Joel Chin's picture book THE FALLING RAINDROP (Tricycle/RH); Candace Ryan's picture books ANIMAL HOUSE and RIBBIT RABBIT (both with Walker); and Bridget Heos' nonfiction picture book series starting with WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING LARVAE (Millbrook/Lerner). Kelly is a frequent speaker at conferences, including the San Diego State Writer's Conference and SCBWI's national and regional conferences. Jennifer Laughran Agent jennL@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Jennifer began her career in agenting after working as a long-time children's bookseller and buyer. She is also the founder of the extremely popular YA event series "Not Your Mother's Book Club". She joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2007. Always on the lookout for sparkling YA and middle grade fiction with unusual and unforgettable characters and vivid settings, she is drawn to all kinds of books, whether realistic comedies or richly imagined magical adventures. However, the common thread in her favorite stories is an offbeat world-view. Jennifer adores simplicity, but she is not interested in the conventional, predictable, mechanical, gimmicky or ordinary. Jennifer loves funny books, thrilling books, romantic books, books that make her cry, and all-around un-put-downable books... and her true favorites are all of the above. Clients include: National Public Radio's own "children's book ambassador" and the author of over 100 books for young readers, Daniel Pinkwater, whose latest novel is ADVENTURES OF A CAT-WHISKERED GIRL (Houghton). His wife, the talented artist Jill Pinkwater, who did the vibrant illustrations for their book BEAUTIFUL YETTA (THE YIDDISH CHICKEN) (Feiwel & Friends). Author/illustrator Calef Brown, whose whimsical drawings and poems have garnered him praise and the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Illustrator and graphic novelist Matt Faulkner, who draws picture books for authors such as Laurie Halse Anderson and Judith St. George, as well as his own books and graphic novels. Jackie Dolamore, whose wonderful debut MAGIC UNDER GLASS (Bloomsbury) has been described as "Libba Bray meets Charlotte Bronte". Edgy debut YA novelists L.K. Madigan, whose FLASH BURNOUT was an ALA Morris Award Winner (Houghton) and Tara Kelly (HARMONIC FEEDBACK, Holt). Kate Messner, who made a splash in 2009 with the E.B. White Readaloud Award-winning BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z (Walker)... these are to name just a few. Jennifer attends several conferences each year. Past conferences include Willamette, Writer's League of Texas, NE-SCBWI, Oregon Coast Children's Book Writers Workshop, Book Passage Children's Writers Workshop, and Big Sur Children's Writer's Workshop. She spends most of her free time... well, reading, what else?! Jamie Weiss Chilton Agent jamie@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Jamie Weiss Chilton represents children's books exclusively, specializing in teen novels and picture books. For teens, she is interested in literary/commercial fiction with intense emotional content (character driven, not issue driven plots); smart thrillers and mysteries; science-fiction and futuristic fiction; surreal stories and magical realism. "I'm looking for a YA writer who is reinventing and re-envisioning the genre, the way Francesca Lia Block did with her Weetzie Bat series in the 1990s. I'm looking for the Lady Gaga of YA fiction." As for picture books, Jamie gravitates towards quirky, unique, character-driven texts and illustrations. Jamie's career in children's books began in 1998, with an editorial internship at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, followed by positions as an Editorial Assistant and Assistant Editor at Bantam Delacorte Dell and Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers. After returning to her hometown of Los Angeles, Jamie pursued her love of children's books in a new arena, as Conference Manager and Golden Kite Award Director at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) before joining the Andrea Brown Agency in 2008. Titles Jamie represents include STRUCK, a YA debut by Jennifer Bosworth (FSG); ORCHARDS, a YA novel in verse by Holly Thompson (Delacorte); THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, a debut YA by Jennifer Castle (HarperCollins); WOLVES, BOYS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT KILL ME and the forthcoming GIRLS DON'T FLY by Kristen Chandler (Viking); genre-reinventing YA horror/psychological thrillers BLEEDING VIOLET and SLICE OF CHERRY by Dia Reeves (Simon Pulse); BAD FOR YOU, a graphic novel by co-creators Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham (Holt); JAMMY DANCE, a picture book by Rebecca Janni, to be illustrated by Tracy Dockray (FSG); Tracey E. Fern's nonfiction picture book BARNUM'S BONES to be illustrated by Boris Kulikov (FSG); and the witty CAVEMAN: A B.C. STORY, told in pictures and twenty-six words by author/illustrator Janee Trasler. Jennifer Mattson Associate Agent jmatt@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Jennifer comes to Andrea Brown Literary Agency after nearly five years of reviewing children's literature as part of the Books for Youth staff of Booklist magazine. That adds up to close readings of around 1,000 books, lending Jennifer a wide-angle view of the tastes of individual houses. Prior to Booklist, Jennifer was an Associate Editor at Dutton Children's Books, where she acquired and edited titles that included CHICO, by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; and THE HEROIC ADVENTURES OF HERCULES AMSTERDAM, by Melissa Glenn Haber. (She also enjoyed an amusing turn on the other side of the desk as a coauthor of THE OFFICIAL EASY-BAKE COOKBOOK). In the picture-book arena, Jennifer is interested in authors and author-illustrators who bring a distinctive, well-developed point of view to their work; at this time, she is not acquiring illustration-only clients. She loves picture books that are story time-ready stories (no one-joke tales or mood pieces) that resonate with universal childhood experiences and concerns; fables and folktales aren't for her. For the older set, she is drawn to richly imagined fantasies that depart from old-hat heroic quests (alternate realities, magical realism, and steam-punk are all styles/premises to have recently caught her notice). She has a special interest in dystopian fiction for middle graders and in sprawling, atmospheric tales with Dickensian twists and satisfying puzzles. But as much as high-concept novels pique her interest, the most mind-blowing premise can't hide a flat narrative that rarely reaches for unexpected descriptions, fully fleshed characterizations, or a zinging narrative voice. Recent fiction sales include Tom Leveen's second contemporary-realistic YA novel ZERO, following up PARTY (both Random House); and Jenny Meyerhoff's comic middle-grade THE BARFTASTIC LIFE OF LOUIE BURGER (FSG). Recent picture book sales include author-illustrator Gail Page's HOW TO BE A GOOD CAT, the latest entry in her picture book series about Bobo the dog (Bloomsbury); and TEN ON THE SLED, a picture book written by Kim Norman (Sterling). Jennifer enjoys writers' conferences, and has appeared at the Big Sur Writing Workshop, the Big Sur of the Rockies Writing Workshop, the Willamette Writers Conference, the SCBWI-Missouri Confluence Conference, and SCBWI-IL Prairie Writer's Day, among others. Jennifer has a degree in English from Amherst College and currently lives in Chicago. Mary Kole Associate Agent mary@andreabrownlit.com Representative Deals Mary came to children's literature from a writer's perspective and started reading at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency to see what it was like "on the other side of the desk." She quickly found her passion here and, after a year of working behind the scenes, officially joined the agency in August, 2009. In her quest to learn all sides of publishing, she has also worked in the children's editorial department at Chronicle Books and earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco. Mary is passionate about exciting, high-concept story ideas and editorial work. With all of her clients, she uses her well-honed editorial eye to develop each project to its full potential. She especially enjoys traveling to conferences and SCBWI events to meet writers and actively build her list. Mary lives in Brooklyn and operates the East Coast office of the agency. At this time, Mary is only considering young adult and middle grade novels and truly exceptional, funny, quirky and character-driven picture books (she especially loves working with author/illustrators). She's seeking fresh, unique voices and idiosyncratic characters who, by book's end, are more flesh than fiction. Her favorite stories are upmarket, high-concept, character-driven and well-plotted...featuring a mix of fast pacing, emotional resonance, and beautiful writing. In essence: literary spark with commercial appeal. While she's not interested in high fantasy (think Tolkien), she would love to consider realistic/contemporary, character-driven fantasy (think GRACELING), urban fantasy, action/adventure, issue books, romance, light science fiction, and absolutely unique paranormal (no vampires or werewolves or Greek mythology), and humor manuscripts. She is especially looking for horror, ghost, mystery, dark/edgy, thriller and dystopian tales. One of her favorite genres is magical realism: a story set firmly in our world, only with a twist—something that turns "reality" on its ear—to make things more interesting. Favorite themes include: family, home, unlikely heroes, discovering one's voice, and finding one's equilibrium after a big life event. Mary adores manuscripts that make her laugh, make her tear up or punch her in the gut. She also loves YA stories of friendship, romance, and betrayal; manuscripts full of those "first time" moments that make teenage life electric and unforgettable. For all projects, voice and character development are absolutely essential, as is a high-concept or upmarket commercial premise. Make sure your manuscript is as strong and polished (revised, revised after feedback, revised again) as possible. She looks forward to reading your work!